ISLAMABAD: Beyond the anti-America speeches made by its leading lights, the Difaa-i-Pakistan Council (DPC) rally here on Monday displayed more rivalry than unity in its ranks and files for the core agenda.
Organised by the Jamaat-i-Islami, the rally at Aabpara Chowk gave the appearance of a formality than a battle cry. Constituent parties of the DPC looked keener on pushing their own agenda and their workers in attendance undisciplined and lacking enthusiasm to the demands made from the platform.
Even such pro-Jehadi stalwarts as Gen (retired) Hamid Gul and the chief of PML-Zia, Ijazul Haq, were booed by sections of the crowd.
"Where were you when bullets were being fired into Lal Masjid?" demanded workers of Ahle Sunnah wal Jamat (formerly Sipah Sahaba Pakistan) and the flag bearers of Ansar ul Ulema (formerly Harkat ul Mujaheeden) when Gen Gul stood up to speak.
And Ijazul Haq suffered worse when same groups sneered calling him 'one of the killers at Lal Masjid'.
Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed of Awami Muslim League was conspicuous by his absence from the latest DPC rally.
A key member of the Islamabad Jamaat-i-Islami intoned to Dawn that maybe Sheikh sahib was missing because of his differences with the organisers, the Jamaat-i-Islami.
Unlike, the DPC rally held at Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi, last month, the Islamabad rally was not that well organised though.
"At least we expected drinking water, if not lunch boxes that were distributed at Liaquat Bagh rally," moaned a reporter.
A Jamaat organiser calmly and meaningfully explained: "Don't you see the difference. We don't have that sort of funds. That rally was organised by Jamaatud Dawa."
Around 40 parties and groups form the DPC, but the rally was mainly attended by workers of Jamaatud Dawa, Ahle Sunnah wal Jamaat, Ansar ul Ulema and the Jamaat-e-Islami.
The organisers had put 6,000 chairs for the participants but it had wide, empty gaps.
In contrast, workers were seen milling around the stage, pushing each other and disturbing the security arrangements. At least on three occasions they came to blows.
The competition appeared to be raising their group's flag highest closer to the stage. Supporter of Ahle Sunnah wal Jamaat pushed the security volunteers who belonged to Hizbul Mujaheeden (affiliated with JI).
As the volunteer resisted, one Ahle Sunnah wal Jamaat worker lifted a chair to hit the security but instead struck a worker of Jamaatud Dawa standing behind the attacker. Finally the security line broke and the workers rushed close to the stage, creating mess and blocking the view for media cameras. Dawn
One group of participants talking to said they had come from Sargodha and planned to go to Muree for recreation after the rally.
Many participants belonging to Ahle Sunnah wal Jamaat said they were brought by their teacher to defend Pakistan against a US attack. "I was told to head for Islamabad to fight for Islam," said Abdul Razzaq who came from Gilgit.
A group of Ahle Sunnah wal Jamaat coming from central Punjab did not even know it was the new name of the party. "We are supporters of Sipah Sahaba Pakistan and we are here to tell America that our party is not terrorist," said Jehangir speaking for the group.
A participant coming from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had a global vision of the DPC and was confident that Islamic revolution would sweep Pakistan. "I came back two months ago from jehad in Khost (Afghanistan). We have beaten the Americans there. Next we will free Kashmir, it will pave way for Islamic governance in Pakistan," said Asadullah, a member of Ansar ul Ulema.
His friend had come from F-11 because his uncle was a leader of Ansar ul Ulema.
Supporters of Jamaatud Dawa however appeared best aware of the mission of DPC and its targets. Most of them, when questioned, said they wanted to pressurise the Pakistani government not to resume Nato supplies and grant MFN status to India till Kashmir issue is resolved.
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